If the battery electrolyte could be made dark with some kind of
non-reactive colorant, it might be easier to visualize its level. I find
it very difficult to maintain it between the two lines inscribed on the
translucent poly case because there just isn't enough contrast between the
colorless electrolyte and the case.

Does anybody know if there is some sort of dye that might be added to
accomplish this?

Alternatively, are motorcycle batteries available as a low-maintenance
type, gel-cell, which negates having to periodically check the electrolyte
and replacing lost water as needed?

Then they mount the battery someplace on the bike where you can't see
the sides well enough to tell anyway. Back before I had all
maintenance-free batteries, I'd buy a cheap battery tester at Wal-Mart
and cut the pickup hose at just the right length to reach the fluid if
it was half-way between the upper and lower level. If I couldn't draw
out fluid, I added a little distilled water until I could.

Nomen Nescio wrote:
> If the battery electrolyte could be made dark with some kind of
> non-reactive colorant, it might be easier to visualize its level. I
find
> it very difficult to maintain it between the two lines inscribed on
the
> translucent poly case because there just isn't enough contrast
between the
> colorless electrolyte and the case.
>
> Does anybody know if there is some sort of dye that might be added to
> accomplish this?
>
> Alternatively, are motorcycle batteries available as a
low-maintenance
> type, gel-cell, which negates having to periodically check the
electrolyte
> and replacing lost water as needed?

You can always use a piece of plastic straw as a dipstick.

Generally, I figure if the plates are well covered the level's
about right.

Nomen Nescio wrote:

> Alternatively, are motorcycle batteries available as a
low-maintenance
> type, gel-cell, which negates having to periodically check the
electrolyte
> and replacing lost water as needed?

I have a Yamaha that's on its second maintenance free battery. They do
lose water, but it takes years for the battery to dehydrate. I could
see a little bit of white material gathering around the terminals. It
might have just been dried soap from washing the bike that didn't get
rinsed off, or it might have been a little acid gradually weeping out.
But it took *eight* years for my maintenance free battery to dehydrate.
I could tell that was happening by the plastic case starting to bulge
and warp a bit from the heat of charging a battery that was low on
fluid.

Superfly Silverman wrote:
> In the South it can take much less time than the 8 years you got out
> of it. Heat is a big contributor to the evaporation process and it
gets
> plenty hot out there. Ambiant temperatures may be in the high 90's
(F)
> but the road temp could be easily in the 100's+. (Even hotter in the
> Desert areas) Enough so that a kick stand can easily sink into
> the asphalt.

Tell me about it. The average high temperature here from the end of May
to the middle of September will be 99 degrees, every day. Record high
was about 116...

Steel parts of the motorbike will get hot enough to 1st degree burn the
unwary rider's skin. A lot of heat comes back off the engine and cooks
the battery. Air temperature around the battery will be 130 to 180
degrees. High ambient temperature is hell on batteries, and owner
ignorance about what fluid to add to a battery that is low on "water"
kills batteries in a short time...

I explained that extensively in another thread...

You do NOT want to look into Gel-Cell batteries. They are not for
cars. Nowadays they use AGM or Absorbed Glass Mat technology. Many
manufacturers make them, I used a Westco in mine.

Raymond